Chapter 131: Galacta, Daughter of Galactus!? Banner Is Back!
The refugees from Asgard had arrived.
But Lorien’s pancake still hadn’t shown up.
So Lorien waved her hand, signaling Bella to go find Hela.
"Have Hela go receive them, then make your own arrangements."
"Got it." Bella nodded and went upstairs.
She found Hela’s bedroom and opened the door. Hela was already awake, sitting with a thin blanket draped over her body while playing video games. The moment she saw Bella, she coughed twice involuntarily, as if remembering something. She quickly pulled the blanket tighter around herself and blurted,
"I’m full today, I can’t fit any more!"
Bella’s expression didn’t change. She clasped her hands elegantly behind her back.
"The Asgard transport ship has arrived on Cybertron. My master asked me to inform you to handle it."
"It’s here already?!" Hela froze for a moment, then set down her game console.
"Alright, I’ll head over soon."
Bella closed the door and left.
...
Hela got up, took a shower, and began changing. She slipped on a skirt at first. She used to think skirts looked childish, but lately she had grown fond of them. They were convenient too—just a quick wipe and done.
But since she was about to meet the Asgardians, she hesitated, then opened her wardrobe. She pulled out the leather pants and top she had bought long ago but rarely worn. Facing the mirror, she untied her pale green hair and let it fall loosely down her back.
Once she was fully dressed, she looked noticeably younger, though with a sharper, cooler edge. Hela nodded to herself, satisfied, then went downstairs to find Lorien.
By then Lorien had finally gotten her pancake and was happily eating. When she saw Hela’s new look, her eyes lit up at once.
"Not bad. Your hair looks great down."
Hela smiled, pleased with the compliment, then asked,
"I’m heading out. I’ll take them to the Avengers when the time comes."
"Go on. Aria and Bella’s avatars are there too." Lorien waved casually. "Thor’s already part of the Avengers anyway, so let them sort it out themselves."
"Understood."
With the plan set, Hela took out the teleporter Lorien had given her, pressed it, and vanished.
...
The next instant, she appeared on Cybertron. At the same time, Bella’s clone flew over after sensing her arrival.
"Where’s the warship?"
"Over there."
Bella led Hela to the vessel carrying the Asgardians. It was docked inside an ecological zone. Soon, the hatch opened, and the refugees began filing out to await Hela’s arrival.
The Collector stepped out first.
"The lady will be here shortly. Stay in this area and do not leave."
As the Asgardians disembarked and carried out their belongings, Thor and Loki glanced around at the surrounding plants and environment.
Thor couldn’t hold back his amazement.
"The scenery here rivals Asgard itself. Where is this?"
As he asked, he turned toward the Collector. But the Collector remained impassive, offering no reply.
Loki tapped Thor, and when Thor looked over, Loki motioned with his eyes toward the distant metal city beyond the forest. From their position, they could only see the towering spires at the top. Yet with so many clustered together, it was easy to picture the vast steel forest below.
As Thor imagined the forms of Transformers, he realized this must be their homeworld. But he still had no idea where in the universe this world was located.
At that moment, Loki leaned in and quietly reminded him.
"When they arrive, don’t be too forward. Don’t get carried away and rush to hug them."
Thor was taken aback.
"Why?"
"Are you stupid?" Loki glanced at Thor. "The ’lady’ the Collector mentioned is our sister...!"
"What?!" Thor’s eyes widened. He looked around at the steel city. "Could it be..."
"No, not exactly," Loki lowered his voice. "But it’s definitely connected to her. So don’t be too enthusiastic at first. Watch how she treats you."
"Why? She’s also an Asgardian," Thor still didn’t understand.
Hearing Thor’s pigheaded response, Loki took a deep breath, unwilling to explain further. He just gave one last reminder.
"Anyway, don’t get excited. Watch what I do, okay?"
Thor thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay."
...
Before long, the twin Ballerinas arrived with Hela.
The moment the three of them landed, the Collector bowed. It wasn’t a deep bow, just a nod to show respect. If it had been Lorien, he would have bent much lower.
As soon as Hela touched down, she swept her eyes over the gathered Asgardians.
There were just over thirty of them. Barely ten men. The rest were women, the elderly, and the weak. The only real fighting force left was Thor and Loki.
That was acceptable. Thor was already an Avenger, and when the time came, Loki could also be brought under proper management. That would work out just fine.
After sizing everyone up, Hela turned her gaze on Thor and Loki.
"You two are my brothers?"
Thor and Loki exchanged a look. Even though they didn’t understand why Hela appeared so small, they still nodded.
"Yes."
"Pathetic." Hela didn’t hold back. "You couldn’t even protect Asgard. In the end, you’ve been reduced to wandering, refugees with nowhere to go."
Thor and Loki both lowered their heads immediately.
The eldest sister was still the eldest sister. Even in such a small form, when she scolded them, the weight of her authority was crushing. They couldn’t help but bow their heads.
But Hela wasn’t here just to berate them. After giving Thor and Loki their lesson, she stood with hands on her hips, pacing a few steps before turning to address the rest of the Asgardians.
"Since we are all Asgardians, I will arrange a remote place in Midgard for you to live in seclusion. The Asgard continent no longer exists, and your divine powers have been severed. From now on, you must adapt to living as ordinary people."
"You may continue to call yourselves of Asgardian blood, but your descendants will no longer come from the continent of Asgard."
Her words were clear. Lower your pride, understand your situation. I’ll give you land to survive on—then live there quietly.
Thor grew emotional when he heard this. To him, it was more than enough.
"My sister, this is enough. Wherever the Asgardians are, that is Asgard."
Oh?
Hela’s gaze fixed on him.
"That doesn’t sound like something you would say."
Thor’s face stiffened.
"..."
Loki stepped forward.
"The continent of Asgard is gone. Now, as long as the remaining Asgardians can live safely, that’s enough."
Living safely—nothing was simpler than that.
At this moment, Hela noticed Hulk cowering in the corner. She looked at him, then at Thor. This one was obviously no Asgardian.
Thor quickly explained.
"This is my friend, Hulk. He’s helped us all along the way. But now..."
He hesitated. Thor didn’t know why Hulk had ended up like this. Finally, he added, "Maybe he’s just not in the best mood."
Hela gave a small nod.
"Then so be it. I’ll take you all to Midgard."
Midgard!
At last Thor and Loki realized what Hela meant earlier when she said she would arrange for them to live in seclusion there.
Of course. Among the Nine Realms, only Midgard was relatively safe. Its living conditions were far better than anywhere else. Let alone other planets across the universe.
Seeing no objections from anyone, Hela nodded, pulled out her teleporter, and pressed it.
"Click—"
In the blink of an eye, everyone appeared on the wide lawn outside the Avengers Compound. Their belongings had come with them. So had Hulk.
After bringing them there, Hela pulled out her phone and contacted Natasha.
Not long after, Natasha arrived with the other superheroes.
Most of them were calm, but Hawkeye and Natasha showed clear warmth when they spotted Thor. Hawkeye stepped up to him, eyeing both Thor and Loki.
"Why do you look so beaten up?"
Thor let out a heavy sigh, his voice low.
"Asgard was destroyed by Ragnarok. Now only these few behind me remain."
When he finished, he looked at Hela.
"This is my sister. She’s the one who saved us."
Hawkeye understood instantly how tragic it all was. He sighed and nodded.
"I’m sorry."
Thor shook his head.
"It’s okay."
Natasha approached Hela.
Hela spoke directly.
"Set them up in some remote town. Aside from Thor and Loki, everyone else should live in seclusion and no longer as Asgardians."
Natasha nodded. Thor and Loki couldn’t simply disappear. Better to have them with the Avengers. After all, arranging lives in hiding also took resources.
She called over staff, instructing them to let the Asgardians rest for now until buses came to take them away.
Once the Asgardians had left, Natasha finally noticed Hulk standing behind the crowd.
"Banner?"
Natasha froze.
Hawkeye was stunned as well.
They were both among the first Avengers, comrades who had once fought side by side to drive off the Chitauri army. Their bonds ran deep. Seeing Hulk like this, they immediately rushed forward to check on him.
"Banner?"
"Banner?"
Natasha and Hawkeye hurried to Hulk’s side, with the others following close behind.
Thor stepped up awkwardly.
"We ran into Thanos while fleeing through space. We fought, lost many people... and then Hulk became like this."
Now Hulk just stayed curled up, unresponsive no matter who called out to him.
Natasha had no choice but to approach directly.
"Banner!?"
Hawkeye also tried to get through to him. He patted Hulk’s shoulder firmly.
"Banner!?"
Startled by the touch, Hulk suddenly jerked upright.
"Rooaaar!!!"
He roared in shock, then shrank rapidly, reverting into an unconscious Banner.
"Banner?"
Thor’s face was filled with worry. He exchanged glances with the others, then quickly scooped Banner up and carried him toward the medical station inside the base.
Hela glanced around and, seeing nothing more that involved her, waved to Natasha.
"I’m leaving. Goodbye."
Natasha nodded, then suddenly remembered Sersi’s words of thanks from the day before. She quickly called out to Hela, who was already about to leave.
"Wait! Thank Lorien for me. Sersi said he saved the world."
Hela: ?
...
Hela vanished with a puzzled look, then returned to the northern tower.
Saved the world? Last night? Wasn’t he drinking himself under the table yesterday? How in the world did he manage to save it then?
Confused, she went straight to Lorien’s office.
At that moment, Lorien was immersed in a video game. When he saw Hela walk in, he only shifted his eyes slightly.
"All done?"
Hela nodded, then asked curiously.
"Natasha said you saved the world. Did you really save the world last night?"
Lorien kept playing, the match at a heated moment, but he answered casually while continuing to operate.
"Strictly speaking, it wasn’t me. Gwen took care of that thing last night."
"But in a few days, its father will show up. That’s when I’ll really have to save the world."
The father of the Celestial Seed? Of course, the Celestials.
The seed was destroyed, and the Celestials would inevitably lay down judgment. No matter how the ruling went, it would certainly involve him. Which meant a fight was unavoidable. Only a matter of days.
But what Hela didn’t get was...
"You mean you were enjoying yourself and just got it done along the way?"
"Correction." Lorien finished his move, turned his head, and said, "I was seriously enjoying myself, and got things done on the side."
"Weren’t you happy enough yesterday? You looked pretty happy to me. Wasn’t that enough?"
At that, Hela jumped, startled.
"Enough, enough."
Yesterday’s... amount was far too much. She wasn’t even hungry today without eating a thing. Who knew how many days it would take her to digest it all.
She quickly pulled out the teleporter, ready to hand it back.
"Here, it’s all settled."
Lorien didn’t even look at it.
"Trash. Keep it for yourself."
Hela’s eyes lit up immediately.
"Then... I can go play with the big guy whenever I want?"
By "big guy," she meant Godzilla—she’d been thinking about him ever since.
Lorien nodded indifferently but gave a reminder.
"Play with him if you want, but don’t bring him ashore to cause destruction. If you run into bad people, kill them. But don’t wreck the boats, cars, or houses that ordinary people are still paying off. Otherwise, you’ll ruin their whole lives."
"I know, I know!" Hela nodded quickly.
Just being allowed to play with Godzilla already felt like a reward. A reward for completing her mission. With the teleporter in hand, she could go out and have fun whenever she liked.
This thing could teleport across the universe! Even if she didn’t plan on space travel, it made life far more convenient.
Happily, Hela left.
...
Meanwhile, at the site of last night’s battle, a young girl appeared. She wore a tall purple hat, matching purple clothes, her skin pale and flawless, her figure slender and graceful. Even her eyes gleamed violet.
"I’m so hungry... starving..."
She announced her hunger the moment she arrived. Then she sniffed the air, and her figure vanished in an instant.
The next moment, she appeared where Godzilla had unleashed his breath—at the curved arc that had cut off the Deviants’ escape.
She stood at the edge of the laser-cut trench, sniffed deeply, and gasped.
"So fragrant!"
Looking down, she saw the long, thick scorch where the beam had struck the ground.
If only that had blasted into her stomach instead. How delicious would that be?!
Thinking this, Galacta—daughter of the world devourer Galactus, one of the Five Abstract Entities—extended her hand and drew in the remnants.
In an instant, all the lingering blue energy in the trench surged out, flowing straight into her grasp. She swallowed it in a single gulp.
"Ahhh~"
Her whole body shivered with delight.
But to her, that little bit of energy was nothing. Like nibbling on a leaf from a grand feast.
"Not enough... Galacta wants more..."
She sighed, then turned her head—and caught sight of Godzilla’s massive footprints.
A sudden spark lit her eyes.
"That’s it! I’ll borrow some from that big guy!"
Without another thought, she dashed off in the direction Godzilla had gone.